Credit: The Associated Press

In this Feb. 1, 2004, file photo, Carlos "El Pibe" Valderrama waves at the end of an exhibition game to formalize his retirement from professional soccer in the coastal city of Baranquilla, in northern Colombia. “El Pibe” lived up to his candid nature by declaring that the teams he captained in the 1990's would have advanced further in World Cup play had the players been freed from chastity. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan, File)

BOGOTA, Colombia — If you're intending to score in a World Cup match, should you score the night before?

It's a question that prompts coaches to set rules, players to seek understanding from wives and lovers, and fans everywhere to debate fervently, with many adamantly believing that abstaining from sex improves performance on the field.